Tiger Gold Factory Special Order
 

How can a person verify if a car came from the factory with the special order Tiger Gold paint on a 1965 GTO? Does the PHS or the cowl tag verify it?

I ran across a listing at Barrett Jackson Scottsdale 2020 that says it has "Factory documented Tiger Gold" paint.

After some research I found this same car sold at Mechum in Phoenix in early 2019 with Capri Gold Paint.

I've included the links below of the listings.

Thanks for your help.


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Even...ERTIBLE-236458

https://www.classic.com/veh/1965-pon...40515-WqAlBqW/

https://www.mecum.com/lots/AZ0319-36...o-convertible/

I’m under the impression that the trim tag would just note special paint. If you don’t have documentation that says what special color it was, you’re out of luck.

I don't know, but the one in the Mecum link looks like a different car to me. No mention of a vin there, but different wheels, tri-power vs 4bbl and it does look like a different color to me. PHS is going to be the only way to know for sure.

Some trim tags include a Dupont (I think) paint code...there was a special order paint 64 on ebay recently that had this, and I have seen 65s with the same stampings.

Tiger Gold
 

I have a couple “Tiger Gold” cars on file (65 and 66). Both are Factory Original Paint.

Here are a few photos of a 65.

Chris.

Thanks Chris,

That helps, it looks like both the the PHS and the trim tag (paint code 2) would indicate that it is special order paint.

Thanks again for posting.

Brad

I've been told that back in 65 they only sprayed Tiger Gold in July, so you would have to have a late June through July build date. I wasn't around back then, but the guy that told me was. He also has a July build date 65 factory Tiger Gold GTO and has owned/restored several more.

Hi Chris, I have just bought a 65 gto with the 2-2 color code, Its loaded with options with a 4sp,Tri-power, Thank you very much for the post, If you know any other way of proving the (2-2) code please advise, Thank you.

Your welcome new member.

Now please post photos of this ‘65 for all to enjoy.

Thanks.

If your trim tag has code 97904 , that is defacto tiger gold.
2-2 usually means it also had a black top

Epay tiger gold 65 gto convertible with data plate 97904 paint code " tiger gold" painted sunfire red https://www.ebay.com/itm/286237577995
another tiger gold gto tri power 4 speed convertible https://topclassiccarsforsale.com/po...ocumented.html

Epay tiger gold 65 gto convertible with data plate 97904 paint code " tiger gold" painted sunfire red https://www.ebay.com/itm/286237577995

That was an extremely oddly optioned - low option GTO
Tiger paint, auto column , R1 , pwr antenna.


Another tiger gold gto tri power 4 speed convertible https://topclassiccarsforsale.com/po...ocumented.html

That one sold new in Flint Michigan and seller says it is rusty. Sure hate that for it.

If I remember correctly the special paint code merely indicates that it was special paint. It does not directly tell you what color that special paint was.

Could be Playboy Pink, or US Forest Green or Catapillar yellow or whatever.

You'd have to find it written on the build docs, or find a phyiscal place on the car where it had not been touched in order to verify the original color.

K

Info I have on '65 paint codes ~
'1' : standard GM paint (but not Pontiac),
'2' : special Pontiac color
'3' : Cadillac FireFrost color
'4' : body in primer
'SPEC' : special order color (non-GM)

Special Paint process (per Eric White):

The procedure for getting a special-paint car ordered went like this:

• The customer (or dealership) determines what color is desired.

• An All Series Special Equipment order form is filled out.

The information required for a special-paint-request on this form is:
• Lower Color Paint No.
• Upper Color Paint No.
• Make of Car & Year Paint Used.
I am guessing that obtaining the correct paint no. would be left up to the ordering salesman/dealership paint department.

In the '60s and early '70s, before colored plastic/fiberglass trim parts became common, any color paint could be ordered, as long as the dealer could supply the paint formula no. on the S.O. form. After the mid-'70s when the crash-bumper fillers became common place, special order colors were phased out except for large fleet orders. [Keith comment - or, steel components substituted for painted parts, as in the Endura front bumper on a '68 GTO]

Several codes were used on the Fisher Body trim tag to indicate a special-order paint. Codes varied between the years and between Fisher Body plants. Some of the codes used were:
1= Standard GM paint, not a Pontiac color
2= Special Pontiac color. Sometimes offered a half-year "springtime" color.
3= Cadillac FireFrost color. This paint was not normally allowed on a Pontiac build because of the special processes required to apply this type of paint.
4= Body in primer
SPEC or ** would indicate a paint color from a source outside GM (Ford, Chryco, AMC, John Deere, International Harvester, etc.) Colors could also be ordered to match school or business colors. As long as a formula no. could be identified by the dealership just about any color hue could be specified.

• The order was then routed through the Pontiac Zone office, which then routed it on to the Central Office.

• Central Office then entered a request to the paint supplier, usually PPG/Ditzler, for the appropriate paint.

• The paint supplier shipped a quantity of paint to the appropriate assembly plant.

• The special-order build was scheduled and coordinated between the Fisher plant and GMAD or Pontiac assembly.

• Build was delivered to dealership with a quart of touch up paint in trunk.

[Keith again:]

I have also seen a && (double ampersand) to designate special paint, on a Pontiac plant cowl data tag.

Most assembly plants have/had a special paint system, separate from the main line, where smaller paint pots could be loaded with low production volume colors, which would minimize the amount of waste when flushing the system. Typically these were done for fleet and special equipment runs (Grand Trunk RR, RCMP, Bell Telephone, etc). We also have had some plants were the special colors were run through the paint repair line rather than the main assembly process.

Would that be Superior Pontiac-Cadillac in Flint? Can you make out a dealer code (07-783)?

That's were we got our '68, I think. The building is still there but is now a bus maintenance facility for the city.

K

Yep . 07-783 is what I came up with from it's document.

Wallace has this memo listed with it --
This dealership was owned by Bill Packer Sr. in addition to Packer Pontiac Detroit (later Auburn Hills)

Those guys were really high stepping in those new Tiger Gold cars in 65.

Whole lot wrong in this photo.
Not 77 heads. Stacked gaskets.
Incorrect PB booster.
Not a ‘65 finger guard for a 3x2 car.
Valve covers on wrong …. again.

Heater hose goes to inner fender - either the rotisserie restoration was done by a Chevy guy, or it's smog pump is MIA. Chevy clutch pedal pad too. Windshield washer hose gets pinched by cowl seal. Couldn't find wingnuts for the air cleaners. Aloominium radiator and electric fan.